At the University of Oregon, the man to match our mansion: 200 wiseguy words

Like so many people in this economy, the state of Oregon can't find a taker for a house it owns. But as so often happens, the state doesn't understand the market.

It's seeking the wrong resident.

Treetops, the official home of Oregon's foremost university figure.University of Oregon

According to The Associated Press, Treetops is an 8,000-square-foot mansion in Eugene donated by a local merchant in the 1930s to house either the University of Oregon president or the state chancellor of higher education. But the university has its own president's mansion, and the past three chancellors have lived in Portland -- and after the Legislature finishes rebuilding the higher education system, there may not be a chancellor.

If neither of them lives there, the house reverts to the merchant's heirs, who would like it back.

But the solution is clear: The mansion should house the UO football coach.

Technically, this is not what the will says, so there could be legal issues. But the state could argue that the spirit of the bequest was that the mansion was intended for the most prominent and best-paid figure in Oregon higher education. In the more primitive 1930s, that meant the university president or chancellor, but right now -- and the law must recognize changing times -- it's the Oregon football coach, by roughly $3 million a year.

And to truly reflect today's priorities, we could rename the house Poll Tops.